Car-coupling link



D. HAYES.

GAR COUPLING LINK.

(No Model.)

Patented May 13, 1884.

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DANIEL HAY ES, OF OAMBRIDGEPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAR-COUPLING LINK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 298,690, dated May 13, 1884. Application filed September 24, 1883. (X0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL HilYns, of Cambridgeport, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oar-Coupling Links, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to that class of links which are used in coupling freight and other cars where a cheap link is desirable; and my object is to provide a link with which the coupling of cars may be effected more conveniently and with less danger. to the workman than with the links in ordinary use.

In order to couple cars with the link in common use, the workman generally uses one hand to hold the link in one car in the proper position to enter the draw-head of the other car, and the other hand to raise the couplingpin of said draw-head. His attention is thus divided and he is exposed to danger.

My improved link is made in two parts, connected by a joint which permits the link to open at one end to admit the coupling-pin of the opposite car as the ears approach each other, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the link in its normal position. Fig. 2 is a detail of construction; Fig. 3, a view in perspective of another detail of construction; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

One of the parts (marked A) forming the main body of the link is a plate of wroughtiron, having a slot, 0, at one end to receive a coupling-pin in the usual manner, said slot being somewhat longer than the diameter of the coupling-pin. The forward end of the part A is formed into ahook or jaw, forming one side of the link at that end. The other part (marked B) is a similar hook or jaw, forming the opposite side of the link at the forward end, and pivoted to the first part, so as to open at the forward end to permit the entrance of the coupling-pin. This part of the link is provided with the projections or lips s s, which embrace the other part, and through which the bolt P passes to connect the two parts together and form the joint. These lips serve to keep the movable jaw in its proper position relative to the main body of the link, and to prevent any displacement transversely to the plane of the link or by twisting, and thus to relieve the pivoting-pin from much abnormal strain and prevent its distortion. The space between the two jaws forms the slot 0, to receive the coupling-pin. On the outside of part B a strong spring, S, is bolted, the free end of which extends over and bears upon the side of the part A and forces the forward end of the jaw B toward the other jaw. At the center of the projections or lips s s are the holes 0 0, to receive the bolt 1?. This bolt also passes loosely through the hole 0 in the part 13, its ends being securely fastened to the said lips s s. The fixed end of the spring S is countersunk or rabbeted into the side surface of the part B, where it is rigidly held by the bolts R R. Said spring throughout its length is let into the surface of said parts, so as to be flush with said surface. The forward ends of the jaws A and B are curved inward, as shown, so as to present an opening into which the coupling-pin of the opposite car may enter as the cars come in contact, forcing the jaws apart until the pin enters the slot 0, when they close by the action of the spring.

The way of using my invention is as follows: The link is connected with one car by a coupling-pin slipped through the slot 0 in the usual manner, and the workman has simply to hold the link with one hand, so as to present its forward end to the coupling-pin in the draw-head of the opposite car. The pressure of this pin upon the above-mentioned curved surfaces of the jaws will cause them to open against the pressure of the spring S and admit the pin to the slot 0, the link being prevented from receding by the first-mentioned coupling-pin in the slot 0, and after the passage of saideoupling-pin into said slot 0 the spring S will press the two jaws together again. To uncouple the cars, my link is withdrawn from the draw-head in the usual manner by raising the coupling-pin. The inner surfaces at the end of the jaws have a curvature of larger radius than the coupling-pin, and will not be easily forced open by the strain of the coupling-pin within the slot 0; but any liability to be forced open may be diminished, if it be necessary, by allowing one-half of the thickness of each lip to extend by the other toacorresponding jaw inthe body of the link,

lip a short distance, the surface of each lip on opposite sides being cut away to allow the prolonged lip of the opposite side to extend 5 over it, the prolongation of the lips beyond the central line allowing them to hook around the coupling-pin more effectively.

I claim- 7 4 The herein-described coupling-link, having 1 0 slots in each end for coupling-pins, and a hooked jaw pivoted upon the body of the link opposite against which its free end is pressed by a spring forming one of the slots, (the other slot being formed in the body ofthelink,) said jaws being 1 5 so formed as to be opened by the pressure of the coupling-pin in entering the slot, substantially as described.

DANIEL HAYES.

Vitnesses:

EDMUND REARDON, WM. S. RoGERs. 

